Latest news with #PatrickLynch
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From AC/DC to Cleveland Ballet: Things to do in Northeast Ohio
Rat Pack Brunch with Patrick Lynch: Noon May 25 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Lynyrd Skynyrd Brunch with Mister Breeze Band: Noon May 25 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. The Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra Postseason Extension: 2 p.m. May 25 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Oyster Bar Pop-Up: 4 p.m. May 25 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Mary Santora: 7 p.m. May 25 at Hilarities, 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland. The University School Jazz Ensemble: 7 p.m. May 25 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle: 8 p.m. May 25 at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Cuyahoga Falls Memorial Day Parade: 9 a.m. May 26 in Cuyahoga Falls. Apollo's Fire 'Hispania' Tour Send-Offs: A Voyage from Spain to the Americas: 7:30 p.m. May 27 at Bath United Church of Christ, 3980 W. Bath Road, Bath Township. Sophia Burgos, soprano. Jpegmafia: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. May 28 at Agora Theatre, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Weathers: 6:30 p.m. May 28 at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. AC/DC: 7 p.m. May 28 at Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland. With The Pretty Reckless. Huntertones: 7 and 9:15 p.m. May 28 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Apollo's Fire 'Hispania' Tour Send-Offs: A Voyage from Spain to the Americas: 7:30 p.m. May 28 at Harkness Chapel (University Circle), 11200 Bellflower Road, Cleveland. Sophia Burgos, soprano. Open Mic Show: 8 p.m. May 28 at Funny Stop, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Turnover: 6 p.m. May 29 at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Recoyle: 7 p.m. May 29 at Jilly's Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. Third Law Collective: 7 p.m. May 29 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Slowhand: Tribute to Eric Clapton: 7:30 p.m. May 29 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Michael Oddo: 8 p.m. May 29 at Funny Stop, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Carlos Jones & The PLUS Band: 7 p.m. May 30 at Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron. With 12 O'Clock Tribe. The Collective: 7 p.m. May 30 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. The Dave Matthews Band: 7:30 p.m. May 30 at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Angelica Scannura: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. May 30 and 7:30 p.m. May 31 at Funny Stop, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Wanted: Tribute to Bon Jovi: 7:30 p.m. May 30 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Outdated View: 8 p.m. May 30 at Jilly's Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. A Night of Magic with David McCreary: 8 p.m. May 30 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. "Not Just a Pretty Dress" Display: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 31 at the McDowell-Phillips House Museum, 205 S. Prospect St., Medina. This exhibit consists of wedding gowns, related apparel and traditions from 1810's - 1980's presented by the Medina County Historical Society. Admission donation is $10 pp. Please call 330-722-1341 or email mchs@ for information and to schedule. 'Impressions of Picasso': 7 p.m. May 31 at Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St. Cleveland Ballet outdoor program with four dances inspired by Picasso and Spain. Tickets start at $30 for lawn seating, $50 for patio seating, and $70 for front-row seats. Swizzle Stick Band: 7 p.m. May 31 at Jilly's Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. $5-$10. Jimmy Failla: Doors open at 7 p.m. May 31 at Agora Theatre, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Fayrewether: 7 p.m. May 31 at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. A Whiskey Deemed Worthy: 7:30 p.m. May 31 at Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. Wayside Furniture sponsors a whiskey event. Tickets, $60, include tasting and food. For 21 or older. Thunder from Down Under: 7:30 p.m. May 31 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Jamey Haddad Quartet: 8 p.m. May 31 and June 1 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Roast Battle Cleveland: 9:30 p.m. May 31 at Funny Stop, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 'The Robber Bridegroom': Through June 29 at Studio Theater, Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. 'Yesterday's Toys' display: 1-4 p.m. June 1 at John Smart House Museum, 206 N. Elmwood St., Medina. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students 7 to 18 and free to kids 6 or younger 330-722-1341 or mchs@ Carlos Jones & The PLUS Band: 4 p.m. June 1 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Coheed and Cambria: 6:30 p.m. June 1 at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, 300 S. Phelps St. With Mastodon. Collective Soul: 7:30 p.m. June 26 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Gin Blossoms: 8 p.m. July 25 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Rick Wakeman with Hayley Sanderson: 8 p.m. July 26 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA: 7:30 p.m. July 27 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Happy Together Tour: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Featuring The Turtles, Jay And The Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues and The Cowsills. Ozomatli: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St. $44-$56. John Cusack with 'Say Anything' Screening: 7:30 p.m. Sept 3 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. Vienna Teng: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Kent Stage, 175 E. Market St. $28-$38. Eric Johnson: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St. $38-$99. Jon Batiste: 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. $81.30-$$218.90. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Things to do in Northeast Ohio for the week of May 25, 2025
National Post
11-05-2025
- National Post
'But he killed my husband': Why charges were dismissed in a Kingston cyclist's death
Play Video Article content Ann Copland will never forget the evening she was brought to the cool, dry morgue at Kingston General Hospital to identify her deceased husband of 47 years, Patrick Lynch. It was the worst day of her life. It was Nov. 12, 2023, and a bright, clear day. Patrick had been out cycling one of his regular routes on Taylor Kidd Boulevard near the west end of Kingston. Copland had gone for a walk at the Lemoine Point Conservation Area on her own. It was just another calm Sunday. They had no set plans for the day, but Copland expected Patrick home around mid-afternoon. When 5:45 p.m. came and went, Copland had already started to worry. Patrick was far too late arriving home. She called the police and asked if there had been a collision involving a cyclist. They told her to stay home. They told her not go to the hospital. The operator seemed to be trying to keep her on the phone but wouldn't confirm any information. That's when she knew. When officers walked through her front door 15 minutes later, she broke down, knowing the worst had happened. That her life, the lives of her three daughters would be forever altered. Sitting at her dining room table earlier this winter Copland's voice breaks, reliving the memory. All the officers told her that evening was that Patrick had been involved in a collision with a vehicle, and he had died. The following July 2024, Copland received more devastating news from the Kingston Police: the Amherstview driver investigators had charged in connection to Patrick's death would not be facing any consequences from provincial court. The Kingston Police had exceeded the provincial limitation period which, at the time, required investigators to swear provincial charge of careless driving causing bodily harm or death in court within six months. One year and three months after Patrick was killed, Kingston Police wrote in a statement to Postmedia they are exploring the possibility of laying criminal charges instead. This was something they'd previously told the president of the Kingston Velo Club and Copland's lawyer David Shellnutt last year as the family prepared a civil lawsuit against the driver involved. The fact police still exploring this avenue was news to Copland at the end of February. She claims the communication between her family and local police since Patrick's death has been unprofessional and thoughtless. That warm July, looking at the police sergeant in awe when he explained the driver wouldn't be facing any consequences, Copland stammered: 'But he killed my husband.' Patrick's usual route on Taylor Kidd Boulevard In the days following his passing, Patrick's twin daughters, Signy and Keavy, spoke with the Kingston Whig-Standard. They explained their father was a retired child psychologist, and described him as the typical, do-anything-for-his-daughters dad who was also a near-professional cyclist. He didn't make any money cycling, but he was paid in experiences only few could imagine. His idea of a vacation usually took the form of a solo adventure cycling across North America and countries all around the world. The February before his death, Patrick surfed for the first time in Australia at 76 years old. While at home, Lynch was a member of the Kingston Velo Club. He wore a bright reflective vest when he rode and was a stickler for cycling safety, his daughters and fellow club members remembered. They said he was so confident following the rules of the road that he felt comfortable riding in even the busiest areas of downtown Toronto. It was common for Patrick to cycle hundreds of kilometres a week around the Kingston region. He'd leave his and Copland's Sunnyside neighbourhood home, ride as far as he'd like, enjoy the lunch he'd packed and then ride back. Copland smiled at the familiar memory while sitting in her home earlier this year. Patrick rode eastbound on Taylor Kidd Boulevard, or County Road 23, regularly, either alone or with a group from the Kingston Velo Club. West of Coronation Boulevard, the paved area on the outside of Taylor Kidd Boulevard's white fog line starts to shrink. Further along, parts of the paved shoulder have eroded so much that even parts of the fog line are gone. It is in this area that Patrick, while riding alone on Nov. 12, 2023, was struck from behind by a small, sporty Subaru at approximately 3:37 p.m. The information surrounding the case of Patrick's death presented in this article were gathered from his family, their lawyer, the Motor Vehicle Collision Report, a Kingston Police General Occurrence Report, a complaint submitted to the Ontario's Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, the Coroner's Report into Patrick's death and a statement of claim filed against the driver involved. None of the alleged facts have been tested in court at this time. The driver of the Subaru remained at the scene as several Kingston Police officers responded to the collision and spoke to witnesses. Their statements are compiled in the general occurrence report. In a copy obtained by Postmedia, a woman who had been driving a Chevrolet Impala behind the Subaru told an officer that before the collision she saw a cyclist wearing a bright, fluorescent vest riding along the paved shoulder ahead of both vehicles. She recalled wondering how the cyclist was going to navigate the deteriorating shoulder and transition onto the roadway. Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers on the roads except on control-access highways such as the 400-series, where cycling is prohibited. When a motor vehicle wants to overtake a cyclist on a municipal or county road, they must obey the one-metre rule, or section 148 (6.1) of the act. This one-metre distance refers to the extreme right of the vehicle and the extreme left of the bicycle. Just as the shoulder narrowed and the driver of the Impala was thinking that she'd eventually have to go around the cyclist, she saw him fly into the air and land on the roadway. Travelling at the 80km/h posted speed limit, she slammed her foot on the brakes of her Impala, left her vehicle, and ran towards him. She searched for Patrick's pulse as others — the volunteer firefighter who had been parked on the side of the road nearby and a driver who had been headed in the opposite direction — joined her in giving emergency first aid and calling 911. Patrick's helmet was split in two. Emergency crews arrived five minutes later to continue emergency treatment. Paramedics rushed Patrick to Kingston General Hospital at 3:48 p.m. He was pronounced deceased at about 4:20 p.m. Patrick's Coroner's Report shared a clean toxicology analysis and concluded he'd died of multiple blunt force injuries, including to his head and neck. The Kingston Police's general occurrence report indicates Patrick was identified at about 5:35 p.m., when an officer retrieved his wallet from his back pocket. Inside the officer found cash, Patrick's driver's licence, his health card and a family photograph. The officer also collected his clothing, his toque, gloves, reflector strap, a neon green reflective jacket and a pair of battery packs for his sock heaters. By 6:30 p.m., less than an hour after she called the police searching for Patrick, Copland was on her way to the hospital to further verify her husband's identity. And, to verify that she was a widow. Kingston Police report findings While the Kingston Police never publicly released who was driving the Subaru, the Motor Vehicle Collision Report places Christopher Sheridan behind the wheel. Sheridan told Postmedia Network that he has been advised not to comment for this story. He has not filed a statement of defence in response to the lawsuit from Patrick's family. The two parties are currently in settlement discussions. According to the general occurrence report, Sheridan was with his young child, and he told officers at the scene that he'd been driving about 85 km/hr in the 80 km/hr zone at the time of the collision. The officer who interviewed Sheridan remarked in his notes there were no skid marks on the road as he would expect from a collision such as this. He also noted the Sheridan's vehicle was 'quite far' from both where Lynch was stuck and where he landed on the roadway, unresponsive. The officer asked Sheridan for his perspective on what had happened. 'He advised that he was eastbound on Taylor Kidd Blvd,' the officer's notes read. 'He stated that a vehicle travelling west bound started to veer into his lane forcing him to veer right. When he veered right, he struck the cyclist. 'He stated he saw the cyclist but had to veer and couldn't avoid hitting him.' Later in the report Sheridan is paraphrased stating he first saw Lynch about 100 yards in advance of the oncoming vehicle veering slightly towards the centre line. The report states Sheridan told police that the oncoming vehicle's driver's side tires may have entered his lane. The Traffic Safety Unit supervisor, Sgt. Steve Koopman, wrote in the report that neither Sheridan nor his child were injured, and that the driver stated he had not been distracted by his child or his cellphone. According to the report, Sheridan's small vehicle sustained major damage to the front, right side, the windshield and the roof. He provided police with his vehicle permit and a recently expired insurance card. Sheridan told the officer the policy was up to date and the policy number was the same. The Motor Vehicle Collision Report indicates that at the time of the collision, Sheridan was a Class G driver, he wasn't suspended from driving and no breathalyzer test was administered by police. The general occurrence report states Sheridan was sober at the time and had previous driving convictions on record. It did not state what offences the convictions were. Kingston Police seized Sheridan's vehicle, and it was returned to him on Feb. 23, 2024. Investigators found the vehicle had no mechanical defects. The investigative team met two months later on April 23, 2024. They presented their findings of the investigation prior to the collision reconstructionist report being finalized. Sgt. Koopman summarized the results of the meeting in his concluding report: 'They advise that Patrick Lynch was operating his bicycle eastbound on Taylor Kidd Blvd on the south fog line, close to the end of the paved portion of the roadway and near the dirt shoulder. This was reasonable in their opinion. A tire mark from his bicycle provided the area of impact when the Subaru directly struck him from behind, allowing them to give distances from the shoulder of the road. The right, front bumper damage of the Subaru, as a result of striking the rear tire of the bicycle, indicates the right tire and side of the vehicle would have been past the fog line and very closely approaching the dirt shoulder of the roadway.' The investigators agreed that with the witness statements and the statement from the driver involved, they had formed grounds to charge Sheridan under the Highway Traffic Act with Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death. The occurrence report states that just after noon on April 23, Koopman informed Provincial Prosecutor Rikki Voskamp of the charge against the driver, and she told him that she'd review the case once it has been sworn in court. Three hours later Koopman called the driver twice, left a voicemail and texted him. When Sheridan called Koopman back 30 minutes later the sergeant explained he needed to speak to him in person. Sheridan explained he worked in Port Hope and that he would be able to meet two days later. On April 25 at about 4:15 p.m., Koopman met with Sheridan at a residence in Amhertsview. Sheridan's mother was present during the meeting when Koopman informed him of the charge against him. The sergeant gave Sheridan the Part III Summons to appear in provincial court on July 8, 2024. Koopman then returned to Kingston Police Headquarters and called Copland to inform her of the charge against Sheridan. She agreed to a media release being distributed. Prior to calling Copland, Koopman swore Sheridan's court Summons before a Commissioner of Oaths, also referred to as a notary. It was nearly a full month before the six-month limitation period set out under Ontario's Provincial Offences Act would expire. A limitation period is the time between when the offence is alleged to have occurred, and it being sworn in provincial court. In the case surrounding Patrick's death, Kingston Police's Court Services Staff weren't scheduled to swear the charge in provincial court until July, a month-and-a-half past the legal limitation period. Radio silence, before Lynch family left shocked In the days following Patrick's death, Copland's daughters, Keavy, Signy and her eldest Alanna, converged on the family home. They made calls to Patrick's remaining siblings, most of whom live in Ireland, his homeland. According to a complaint submitted to Ontario's Law Enforcement Complaints Agency by Copland's lawyer David Shellnutt, the evening of Patrick's passing was the last time the Kingston Police actively reached out to Copland about the progress of the investigation. For four months Copland said she had no idea how her husband had died. It was only when she received the Coroner's Report in March that she learned Patrick had been struck from behind. After reading the report, Copland says she was the one who reached out to Koopman and asked to meet with him and to receive her husband's belongings back. They met on Good Friday, March 29. She said Koopman provided her with a brief progress report but couldn't return any of Patrick's belongings because the appropriate staff were off for the holiday. Postmedia approached the Kingston Police for an interview about this case on Feb. 7, 2025. The evening of Feb. 12, 2025, Koopman sent an email declining the interview and providing a statement instead. After requesting an interview again and being turned down, on April 14, 2025, Postmedia sent a list of questions for Koopman to respond to. In response to those questions, Koopman said investigators followed their policies in regard to communicating with a deceased's family in this case. Koopman explained there are only formal communication policies for cases that meet the Ontario Major Case Management model. These cases are significant in size, complexity and as part of the management model, a victim liaison is assigned. Koopman explained a fatal motor vehicle collision such as the one that killed Patrick did not meet the threshold for the major case management model. Koopman said they followed their policy by notifying Patrick's next of kin, but after that in case such as this, any further communication is informal in terms of timing and consistency. From Koopman's perspective, there was communication with Patrick's family in person, by telephone and through email. He wrote that the family was informed of progress in the investigation, they delivered Patrick's belonging to Copland's home, they informed her of the charges they'd laid against the accused and they asked permission to identify her husband in releases to the public. Copland felt she was met with reluctance during the meeting on Good Friday. She reminded Koopman at the time that the six-month limitation period was looming. Copland said he told her that he would be revisiting the case with the intention of laying charges after the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. When Copland asked, Koopman said it would be OK for her to email him after the eclipse to remind him of the case. She says she did. The month after Sheridan was charged Copland asked to view the police investigators' reports. In an email received on May 16, 2024, the Kingston Police's Records department informed her that they could not release the files unless they received direct guidance from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. This was because, at the time, the ministry had 'asserted that they have a greater interest in any police incident involving a motor vehicle accident resulting in a death.' Copland reached out to the Attorney General who then referred her back to the Kingston Police. She said again the local records department were reluctant to release the files. On May 23, 2024, Copland spoke with a representative from Pro Bono Ontario, based in Toronto, who emailed the Kingston Police on her behalf. Ann received a copy of the Kingston Police's General Occurrence Report that same evening. Another few months went by, spring approached summer, and the Kingston Velo Club started asking for more information about Sheridan's date in court. Copland said they called nearly every courthouse looking for the date. Copland does not recall ever receiving the date from police and it was not included in the media release announcing the charge. In the days leading up to when Sheridan was scheduled to appear in court, Koopman visited Copland at her home. She recalled him informing her that the charge of careless driving causing bodily harm or death laid against Sheridan had been dropped because the official charge information had not been sworn within the office of the court within six months of the collision as per provincial legislation. 'Immediately upon learning of the loss of the Highway Traffic Act charge due to the administrative error and ensuring there were no other recoverable legal options available, the investigator personally attended the family member's residence to advise them of the regrettable outcome,' Koopman recalled of the meeting in the statement. Copland couldn't believe what the sergeant was telling her. It just didn't make sense. She asked how could this have happened? The history of the Highway Traffic Act's Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death In 2005, OPP Sgt. Greg Stobbart was training for a triathlon. On June 6 that spring, he had the day off and he called his wife, Eleanor McMahon, just to check in, to let her know he was pondering whether to go for a swim or to take his new bike out for its first ride. 'He loved that bike,' McMahon told Postmedia this past January. 'He couldn't wait to take it out.' McMahon recalled her husband wanted to get outside either way, so he opted for the ride. They said they loved each other before they hung up. Just like they always did. Less than an hour later Stobbart was cycling up a steep hill on Tremaine Road, or County Road 22, in Milton when a commercial, five-tonne truck approached from behind. The driver of the truck decided to pass the vehicle in front of Stobbart, but when he pulled his truck out into the opposite lane, another vehicle came over the crest of the hill. The driver of the truck swung it back into his lane but his mirror clipped Stobbart, throwing him into the ditch. He eventually died of his injuries and McMahon, like Copland, was suddenly a widow. The driver of the truck was convicted of careless driving. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and had his licence suspended for a sixth time. At the time there was no careless driving causing bodily harm or death in Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. There were no increased penalties for taking the life of another when driving recklessly. Eleven years later, Stobbart's widow had become the Liberal MPP for Burlington. Inspired by her late husband, on June 7, 2016, McMahon tabled private members Bill 213. In addition to officially creating the charge, McMahon's bill called for stricter punishments over the general careless driving offence, and even harsher penalties if a cyclist or pedestrian was the victim. It also gave investigating officers two years to have the charges sworn before a Justice of the Peace. McMahon said she had worked with police to create the bill and was proud of it. She was confident it would receive royal assent. That was not to be. According to the Ministry of Transportation, McMahon's bill was killed when former Premier Kathleen Wynne prorogued the legislature on Sept. 8, 2016. Instead of passing in one bill, portions of Bill 213 were included in others over the next eight years. First, Bill 174, the Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act amended the Highway Traffic Act to create the offence as well as steeper punishments if a pedestrian or cyclist were the victims involved. It came into force in September 2018. The bill did not lengthen the standard six-month limitation period and so in 2023 the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police formally called on the province to do so. They requested the province increase the timeframe to two years. More than a year later, on Nov. 18, 2024, Bill 223 Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act passed through the legislature and amended the Highway Traffic Act to do what the Chiefs of Police asked. Bill 223 received royal assent and came into force on Dec. 4, 2024, just over a year too late for Patrick's case. Kingston Police's perspective Prior to requesting an interview, Postmedia asked the Kingston Police how many charges of Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death they'd issued between January 2019 and December 2024. The force reported issuing 14 of the charges: none in 2019 or 2020, seven in 2021, one in 2022, three in 2023 and three in 2024. The charge against Sheridan involved in Patrick's death is reflected in the 2023 number. How many of the charges resulted in convictions was not immediately available. Koopman said it is not common for Kingston Police investigators to miss a provincial limitation period, but 'we are unable to track statistics in this regard.' 'Concerning this case, investigators were aware of the limitation period and issued a summons on the accused before the six-month limitation period, but due to an administrative error it was not brought forward to Provincial Offences Court to be formally sworn to,' Koopman said. 'As a result of this process both the Traffic Safety Unit, Uniform Patrol Division, and Court Services were all advised of this circumstance as a point of training to ensure this does not reoccur.' In an email sent July 3, 2024 to Carole Russell, past president of the Kingston Velo Club, Koopman described missing the limitation period deadline as 'an extremely unfortunate and frustrating administrative process that appears to have no remedy.' Koopman explained in the email that his office believed they'd met the limitation period when he charged the driver in person and swore the charge before Commissioner of Oaths at the end of April 2024. He explained that the driver was scheduled to appear in July to allow more time for investigators to complete a summary brief of the incident and their collision reconstruction report. 'We have worked extremely hard on this case and were looking forward to testifying, if required, to see a successful outcome,' Koopman wrote at the time. 'While not important in comparison to Ann's emotions and the community's expectations of justice and accountability, I am personally disappointed and devastated by this apparent outcome and am making any and all attempts to see if there are still any options available to us.' Koopman told Russell they learned at the end of June that the charge wouldn't be proceeding. 'In our opinion we reached the threshold of reasonable and probable grounds the offence had been committed,' Koopman wrote Russell. 'The accused was officially served notice of the offence, being summonsed to court, and the vast majority of evidence had been completed.' In the July email Koopman sent to Russell, he wrote that while they were seeking advice from the Crown Attorney's Office to find an alternative solution, he wasn't optimistic. According to the report submitted to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency by Shellnutt in late December 2024, Koopman told him he wasn't confident the Crown would be convinced. On Feb. 19, 2025, Shellnutt learned that the complaint they'd submitted to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency had been screened out because the case was still ongoing. Shellnutt reached out to Kingston Police for an update on the case on March 3, and had not heard back by March 12. Koopman told Postmedia in response to our questions that it would 'be premature to publicly discuss potential charges prior to police participating in a final case conference with the Crown Attorney's Office.' When asked why criminal charges were considered after investigators missed the provincial limitation period, Koopman said both federal and provincial charges are considered at the beginning of any investigation. 'In this matter, additional insight and input is being requested by investigators from the Crown Attorney's Office in such areas as the researching of case law and the reasonable prospect of conviction, dependent on the offences being considered,' Koopman explained. When reached for comment, the Kingston Crown Attorney's office reported the case was an Ottawa matter. The Ottawa office said they don't provide any information to the media. Postmedia has reached out to the Ministry of the Attorney General for more information. Koopman said in his statement to Postmedia that the Kingston Police Safety Unit embraced the December 2024 amendment to the Highway Traffic Act, giving them two years to investigate Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death. 'We can confirm these investigations are indeed becoming increasingly complex and technical in nature, both in terms of our evidence and data-collecting capabilities and equipment, as well as the ongoing automation and computerization of motor vehicles with infotainment consoles, integration with personal devices like smartphones, wireless, remote data storage, firmware upgrade capabilities, and more,' Koopman wrote. Whether the case is to be tried in the criminal court or not, Shellnutt urged waiting nearly a year and a half for a matter such as this to be resolved isn't fair to a family who lost their father and husband. Given the manner of Patrick's death, Shellnutt said the state of the investigation raises questions for him. He urged Kingston's cycling community to work with elected officials to ensure something like this doesn't happen again. 'We pay so much for policing that we expect the utmost to service to our communities and this case certainly lays bare how that can be wanting… to put it mildly,' Shellnutt said. 'Had Mr. Lynch been killed in any other manner, through negligence or intentional, would his family still be engaged in the same run around with police and prosectors?' In the statement, Koopman said investigators did not treat the case any differently because the victim was a cyclist. Let down by Kingston Police Keavy Lynch proposed officers expressing the limitation period was too short for the complexity of the case is just an excuse for incompetence. 'Unfortunately, several more pedestrians and cyclists have been killed in Kingston since my dad,' Keavy wrote to Postmedia. 'I have no confidence that the Kingston Police takes these deaths seriously, and I think no family should have to deal with the uncertainty that the police's lack of care added to an already horrible situation. … 'Ultimately the police had a basic duty to know the law (a five-year-old law!) and to treat my mum with respect, and I think they massively failed at both,' Keavy Lynch wrote. 'How many other cases were mishandled between 2018 and 2023? 'My hope is that if these failures are made public, then the police will make an effort to change the way they handle these cases.' Copland is proud of her daughter's strong words. She had trusted the Kingston Police, and she feels they let her family down. Koopman apologized for the case not proceeding in court, but Copland said she'd like an apology for how her family was treated. 'I don't see how this could be professional behaviour,' Copland said, recalling the months she says she went without answers. The months of giving the driver the benefit of the doubt and second guessing her husband's actions that day, she says. Copland felt their family was never made the priority during the investigation by police. She pointed to the General Occurrence Report where it states Sheridan's vehicle had been released to him before Patrick's family received any of his belongings. She says that when she spoke with Koopman, the officer referred to Sheridan by a nickname, which, to Copland, seemed to suggest Koopman was sympathizing with the driver. In the complaint to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, it explained that Koopman's behaviour made Copland wonder whether the officer and the accused knew each other prior to the collision. In a statement to Postmedia, Koopman denied sympathizing with Sheridan and confirmed neither he, nor anyone on the investigative team, had any previous connections with the former accused prior to the investigation. Copland said that on the day Koopman told her the charge had been dismissed, he described Sheridan as 'a good man,' and told her that had the charge gone through the courts and he was found guilty, there wouldn't have been 'much of a sentence anyway.' 'Ms. Copland took this as an attempt to excuse his neglect of duty and failure to properly charge Mr. Sheridan,' Shellnutt wrote in the complaint to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency. 'She felt as though Sgt. Koopman was trying to convince her that the prosecution of the man that killed her husband was not something she should be concerned with.' Sgt. Koopman declined to comment on past conversations with any of the parties involved. 'There is a regret of the loss of this charge and the opportunity to hold the driver legally accountable for their actions under the authority we had via the Highway Traffic Act,' Koopman wrote. 'I take my role as the Traffic Safety Unit supervisor extremely seriously, where in our position as collision reconstructionists we experience and observe the aftermath of vehicle-related fatalities, and how they have life-altering effects on the involved parties, their family members, friends, and colleagues, as well as the community at large.' In the claim Patrick's family is seeking a combined $6.5 million in damages for loss of care and companionship. They include emotional damage, but also to cover costs incurred since Patrick's death — costs including ongoing therapy to deal with the loss of their loved one and the stress of having limited answers from police, Copland said. The statement of claim was served to Sheridan on Dec. 17, 2024, but litigation was delayed when Sheridan did not forward the claim to his insurance company, Shellnutt said. In February, Shellnutt's office did this for Sheridan and discussions have begun with his representative. 'We are engaging in discussions to potentially resolve the matter, sparing Ms. Copland and her daughters a fair amount of time and the discomfort that comes with litigation around the loss of a loved one,' Shellnutt said. 'Thankfully, in most of the cases that we deal with fatalities, as long liability is clear, or somewhat clear, I find that the insurance companies for defendant motorists are usually pretty willing to resolve.' In the wake of her husband's passing Copland is on the edge of accepting that she'll never truly know what happened to Patrick and that no one may be held accountable for taking him from her. Sitting, peering around the home she shared with Patrick for 39 years, she explains that she's decided to move. Patrick was the fixer. He'd fixed up everything in the old war-time home. Everywhere she looks she sees him and the work he's done. She must move. She sighs deeply. 'I would love for it to be over.'
Irish Independent
10-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Man (50) who broke into same building on consecutive nights jailed for string of burglaries
Patrick Lynch (50), of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, Dublin 14, appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to several counts of burglary, theft, and trespassing. The court heard that on January 9, 2024, Lynch unlawfully entered the Rosemount Resource Centre at Waldermere Terrace, Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 14, as a trespasser and committed the theft, namely the stealing of five Samsung tablets worth €5,500. The offence was prosecuted under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001, contrary to Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. On the following night, Lynch returned and stole more Samsung devices and €450 in cash. Gardaí later obtained a search warrant for his address, and five of the stolen tablets were recovered. Lynch made full admissions during interview. While on bail however, he committed further offences on April 29 and 30, including entering a property through an open window and stealing a phone and a laptop worth approximately €1,000. In a separate incident around 1am, Lynch was seen trying several doors and placing rocks into a plastic bag. He also attempted to break into another area of the resource centre and a nearby beauty salon. Lynch has 134 previous convictions, including 11 for theft under Section 4 of the 2001 Act, as well as public order, criminal damage, drug-related offences, firearms offences, and 21 for driving without insurance. His solicitor, Caroline Egan, said Lynch had a long history of drug addiction and mental health difficulties, which had escalated following the death of his wife three years ago. He had served previous custodial sentences, including in Mountjoy Prison, and was currently on remand for other matters. Ms Egan said Lynch was struggling with grief, depression, and street drug use, and had not been engaging with medical services, missing several appointments. She asked the court to consider his personal circumstances and medical needs. Judge Watkin said that while she accepted Lynch's background was difficult, the repeat nature of his offending - especially returning the following night after the first burglary - and the extent of his criminal history required a custodial sentence. Lynch was sentenced to six months in prison. Legal aid was granted, and recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
